Garmin S1 - 30 day review (rating: solid A / value: A+)

[dcmidnight]

So I really wanted a watch to replace my UproMX and found myself completely unimpressed with the newer offerings with bluetooth or any other sorts of add-ons. I didnt need them and besides I needed something that would be USGA compliant - so nothing with tempo measurements on there. At the time the S1 was $129 on Amazon - hovers around $140 right now - so I figured it was worth a shot.

 

Well, I've been extremely impressed. First off, the S1 has absolutely no "extras" at all. No built in hazards, no mark your own hazards, no scorecard, you cant read your text messages or measure your swing temp on it - none of that. It measures FMB, has a shot measure feature and an odometer - and I think thats it. But what it does have works *really* well.

 

The watch starts up and gets satellite lock quick - I think the most I've waited was 10 seconds. Then it finds all the courses around you, you pick yours - and thats it. It is extremely quick to get distances once you get to your ball and the most I've seen it off to a yardage plate has been 2 yards. Now I also carry a ProX7 and used to shoot all my yardages inside 100 yards but I've definitely cut back. One, I think the watch has sped up my game and two, its easy enough for me to make a good estimate based on looking at the pin. I would say that my margin of error does not spill over into needing a different club. I will however still use it to shoot hazards if I need to.

 

The odometer seems to work great and the shot measure feature is very easy to use. You hold the button down to access the menu and 'measure shot' is the first thing that comes up - you hit it again and it starts. Very easy.

 

I also really like that there is no downloading of courses. I've been able to grab the watch and go if I'm playing a course I hadnt planned on - but no issues since everything is preloaded. It also weighs less than 2 oz - after the first ten minutes or so at the range I honestly forgot I was wearing it.

 

Anyway, I really think this is one of the best values going right now. Again - the S1 really is no frills. But it works as advertised, its lightning fast and extremely accurate. Cant ask for much more than that.

[farfrompar]

That's the same reasons why I bought mine.

The S1 replaced a Upro and a Neo+ watch

[CactusGolf]

Totally agree with this review.

I have the S2. Only real advantage to me is the scorecard. I like having the scorecard function because I can just input my score and not know what the final tally is until the end of the round.

I find that I am pin high more often because I'm not trying to hit it a specific distance, but to a range of distances.

I don't run into that many blind shots where I can't see the pin so that really isn't an issue.

I have no desire for a color touchscreen and I certainly don't want a watch that can connect to my phone.

[JZartman]

So glad to read this. I just bought mine. waiting for it to arrive and will be using it next weekend

[Hateto3Putt]

I bought one for my Sister earlier this year. She loves it.

For my money it's better than anything Skycaddie has to offer at any price point. I knew she couldn't be bothered with all the downloading and "features" which would do nothing more than confuse her. (She's one of those MBA's that walks into glass doors)

FBM numbers are all "good enough" which is all most GPS users need anyway.

[Rock Chalk Jayhawk]

The process for updating the golf course mapping is free and easy. Just go to garmin.com/express and download the program. It will walk you through the process.

[Itsjustagame]

Have an S1 and a Skycaddie SGX. Will use the S1 for familiar courses and Skycaddie when I need additional course info.
S1 works very well.

[Rickbo]

I absolutely agree with everything you've said in your review OP. I bought mine so that I have a quick reference guide, nothing more.

I must admit, I do get a little frustrated when I play with people who measure [i]everything[/i] with a rangefinder, when all I do is glance at my wrist and pick a club. I know that at the level I play at, I'm not going to be accurate to within a yard most times, so a rough guide is all I really need.

Actually, just remembered one negative re: quality control. After the first few times I used it, my (first) S1 started fogging up. I believe there may have been some issues with the case on some of them as this was quite a common problem. I only noticed after I'd played in the rain once or twice then went out on a really hot day. Must have been some moisture ingress. No problems with my replacement watch in almost a year of playing in all conditions.

[BDOG101]

Good review, I'm considering purchasing however I'd like to know if for example I missed the green right, pin high and the pins in the middle of the green, will it give me the yardage to the nearest point of the green to where I am or still the front of the green if looking at it from the fairway?
Thanks

[Clambake]

Garmin gives you distance to Front, middle, and back from the direction you're coming into the green, not fixed points as viewed from the fairway. I love my S1, and it has held up well for the last 2+ years.

[Justmuckit]

I had a S1 for almost 2 years, and I'd still have it if the band didn't break.

The band not being replaceable is the only downside to that watch.

[Colby327]

I love the my S1.

The only complaint I have is its finicky when trying to charge. You have to have the charger pins hitting the watch plates just right, or it won't take the charge.

[dcmidnight]

Yeah thats definitely the odd thing, you have to make sure it clips on right.

Still works great though. There are times on new courses that I miss the maps of the Upro but I definitely love the simplicity of the watch.

[ppl4golf]

One of the best golf purchase I ever made.

However, mine bit the dust after 3 yrs of use.

Currently looking for a replacement.

[Muse]

[quote name='farfrompar' timestamp='1413309477' post='10285277']
That's the same reasons why I bought mine.

The S1 replaced a Upro and a Neo+ watch
[/quote]I was very intrigued by the S1 when it came out but stuck with my uPro G1, which I'm still using. Now, the way I used to use my uPro, an S1 would have sufficed. Shot measurement and distance to front/center/back was all I was using. Lately, though, I'm using Anypoint, and that's a great feature, letting me measure distance to layup spots. The uPro's features are more extensive than I've memorized, and that's the reason I didn't use a lot of them. Of course, Callaway's terminated support, there will be no more course updates, but for now I'm OK. If something happens to my uPro or I start to miss course updates or start playing courses that I haven't downloaded, then I'll likely look into getting another GPS, maybe a Garmin G6.

I actually bought a Callaway uPro MX+ on Dec. 22, ~10 days before Callaway support terminated, in order to have a cheap GPS with 25,000 Basic Mode courses in case I played a course that my uPro G1 didn't have. I downloaded 50 Pro Mode courses to it and updated it's firmware, but the damn thing totally died a few days later, when it was too late to get a replacement and download anything. Maybe I could buy one used, I bet they can be had cheap now. I wouldn't be able to download courses or updates, but it would be something.

[butch33611]

Coming up my 4th season with the S1. I wouldn't trade it anything else. Just as described above. I love this thing.